Melissa Frakman​ is founder & managing partner of Emphasis Ventures (EMVC), a venture capital fund investing in early-stage “leapfrog” fintech in India and other high-growth markets. She brings 15 years of experience participating in India’s digital revolution to bridge worlds for entrepreneurs and companies.

Named on the “Global Fintech PowerList” by Innovate Finance, Frakman has led Asia early stage investments, supported new market strategy, and built partnerships worth over $1 billion for 15 of the Fortune 100 companies and 2 pension funds, including in digital payments, capital markets, blockchain, and retail asset management.

She has been an advisor to companies including Amazon and Remitly as well as a guest lecturer on India’s financial sector at Harvard Business School, Cornell Johnson School of Management, New York University Stern School of Business, and Copenhagen Business School. Frakman’s additional prior roles include Vice President of Operations for ecommerce unicorn Zomato, India Senior Director at Albright Stonebridge Group, International Business Lead for Sabre Systems Inc., microfinance lending in New Delhi, and Financial Services Director of the US-India Business Council where she founded and led the Electronic Payments and Asset Management Working Groups to convene stakeholders—including collaborating with private sectors and both governments—toward what’s now India’s operational digital finance policy.

Frakman studied at Columbia University, Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad, and City University of New York where she received the Ward Medal for economics. She has received leadership fellowships from the Colin Powell Center, Legatum Institute, and Oxfam International. Frakman serves as a mentor to accelerators including Techstars India, Zone Startups, Village Capital, and 1776. In her spare time, she is involved in supporting music and performing arts organizations. She is based in Washington, DC and Mumbai.